Why is my photo blurry or pixelated?

 

If your photo is printed as blurry, it is probably because the original photo was blurry. The blur isn’t always easy to see, but you can do so by zooming in. If the image becomes extremely blurry, it is probably a blurry photo. Then comes the question of how to fix the blurry image.

Unfortunately, with blurry photos, there is little you, or we, can do to correct the image. The best option is to replace the photo with another photo with higher resolution and DPI.

 

Pixelated photo

 

To ensure the best result, we recommend that your photos have 300 DPI for print size. Photos with a range of 150 to 300 DPI will most often print with good quality, while photos with less than 150 DPI or much more than 300 DPI will be poor quality prints. Always make sure to select the highest resolution versions of a photo you have.

 

TIP: If you don’t know where to find the resolution and DPI of a photo, here’s how to do it:

 

• iOS Mac users: Right-click the image or tap Control & Click. Next, select Get Info from the context menu. You will then see a small pop-up window containing all the information about the image.

 

• iOS mobile devices: Long press on the photo to bring up the action menu and choose Info from the menu list. You will then open the detailed information about the selected image file, including file format, size, dimensions, camera, device, DPI, etc.

 

• PC with Windows users:

  Right-click the image, left-click Properties, and then left-click Details. There you will see all the information about the image.

 

• Android phone users: On the desired image, click on the 3 vertical dots representing options, then choose details

Note that apps like Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, Instagram and Facebook compress all your photos, so the photo may look good on your screen, but it won’t always print well.

If a friend sent you the photo, please ask that friend to send you the file via email, Google Photos, or Dropbox as these services do not compress files.

Also make sure that all subjects are well lit in your photo. Natural light is the best option, but otherwise, make sure the image brightness is high. Watch for movement in the photo, especially with babies, as movement captured in a photo will appear as a blur which is not always detectable in resolution.

 

How to Fix blurry image or pixelated photo in photoshop?

 

 

Fix the blurry image or pixelated photo can be a challenging task, and the extent to which you can improve the image depends on the severity of blurriness or pixilation. Here are some steps you can take to try and enhance the quality of such photos:

 

1. Use Sharpening Tools:

• Many photo editing software, like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, have sharpening tools that can help enhance the details in a blurry image.
• Apply the “Unsharp Mask” or “Smart Sharpen” filter in Photoshop, and adjust the settings to find the right level of sharpness.

2. Noise Reduction:

• Use noise reduction tools to reduce pixilation caused by high levels of noise. Many photo editing software includes noise reduction filters.
• You can also use dedicated noise reduction software like Topaz Denoise or Neat Image.

3. Upscaling:

• If the image is pixelated, you can try upscaling it using tools like Adobe Photoshop’s “Image Size” or dedicated upscaling software like Topaz Gigapixel AI.
• Keep in mind that while upscaling can reduce pixilation, it won’t magically create more detail.

4. Enhance Contrast and Saturation:

 

• Increasing the contrast and saturation can sometimes make the image appear sharper and more vibrant.
• Be cautious not to overdo this, as it can lead to artificial-looking results.

5. Use Filters:

• Experiment with filters or presets that can help improve the appearance of the image. Some filters are specifically designed to enhance photos.

6. Manual Retouching:

• Zoom in on the photo and manually retouch areas that are particularly blurry or pixelated using tools like the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush in Photoshop.
• This can be time-consuming but may yield the best results.

7. Combine Multiple Images:

• If you have multiple similar photos, you can try to combine them using image stacking techniques to reduce noise and enhance details.

8. Consider Professional Help:

• For severely damaged or low-quality photos, it may be worth consulting a professional photo restoration service.

9. Prevention is the Best Cure:

• To prevent future photos from becoming blurry or pixelated, always use the highest quality settings on your camera or smartphone and ensure proper lighting when taking photos.

Remember that while these techniques can help improve the quality of a blurry or pixelated photo, they may not work miracles. The quality of the end result will largely depend on the original photo’s condition. Always make a copy of the original photo before making any edits, so you can preserve the original data in case the edits do not produce the desired results.